Sometime in June of 2016, Charles Raymond A. Maxey hosted dinner with family members to consult them over a forthcoming job in the national government. Wary of the challenges that lie ahead and the big responsibility that goes with the position, Maxey wanted to make sure his decision to accept the job is being supported by everyone in the family.
He got a resounding nod of approval, of course, but was reminded by his younger sister: “Just be careful, it’s a snake pit in governnent.”
Now, almost six years later and nearing the end of his term as one of the commissioners of the Philippine Sports Commission,. Maxey says his stint as a government worker was a fulfilling one.
‘It was colorful and memorable,” said the 54-year old Maxey.
The transition from working in the private sector as a journalist for more than 20 years into serving the public was initially not an easy one.
While Maxey admitted he was already comfortable with his job as being a media practitioner also involves public service, working in government is far more different.
Maxey used to work with Edge Davao, a business and community paper in Davao City, when he was appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte following the 2016 national elections. Before that, he had worked with SunStar Davao and had a brief stint with the local government of Davao.
Maxey readily accepted the responsibilites when he was named to the country’s highest sports agency as an aistant secretary.
From covering big politicians and personalities, press conferences and big-time breaking news, and handling big responsibilities in an editorial newsroom, he was now involved and immersed in crafting policies for the betterment of the grassroots and elite sports programs in the country alongside the other members of the PSC Board of Commissioners.
“This was not my first time working in the government. But working in PSC was different. I had bigger responsibilities,” said Maxey, who previously worked as a program officer of the Sports Development Division – City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO).
He practically learned the ropes in the PSC from the get-go. But his two decades-long experience as a reporter, and editor in various beats helped mold him to be a person for others and to do public service wholeheartedly.
“I still can’t believe it. I’m happy that I have been given the chance to serve the country. At this point, I believe I gave my whole heart and passion in serving Philippine sports,” Maxey said.
Aside from helping craft policies as a member of the PSC Board, Maxey spearheaded the Indigenous Peoples Games and the country’s participation in the BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games and the Inter-Public Schools Girls Volleyball, and was also involved with the ASEAN Schools Games and Palarong Pambansa.
Maxey was also part of the Sports for Peace and Children’s Games programs’ revival, which were a brainchilr of PSC Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez.
Maxey, married to Bella Marie and father to Andrea Patricia, said he was happy to have served the public, specially the athletes.
“Challenges and problems are normal, and it is part of our job. We just made sure that whatever decisions we’ve made, they are all for the common good of our stakeholders, which are the athletes and our coaches,” Maxey said.
With less than three months left before stepping down from his post, Maxey is confident that the athletes, sports associations, and other sports stakeholders felt the genuine policies, and programs implemented under their administration.
“We made sure that all programs reached the intended stakeholders,” Maxey said.
